PISMO BEACH SNIPER by Topper Jones

PISMO BEACH SNIPER

When sniper fire erupts at the Central Coast Surf Trials at Pismo Beach, private investigator Thad Hanlon is thrust into every parent’s worst nightmare. His eleven-year-old son and two teammates are shot while surfing—one critically injured—plunging the contest into chaos and terrorizing the tight-knit Five Cities beach community.

The shooter disappears, torching his hideout, leaving only questions in his wake. Random attack—or the first move in a deadly game? Why target young surfers? And is the marksman finished…or just getting started?
Urged by desperate parents, Hanlon and his sharp-witted partner, Bri de la Guerra, race to protect the kids as they train for the upcoming West Coast Championships. But as the detective duo close in on the sniper, they uncover a chilling truth: the surf team isn’t his ultimate target—and the nightmare is far from over. This gripping thriller will keep you turning pages late into the night.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• How a high school newspaper printed his love poem without permission, and the byline that hooked him on writing
• The working title "Kawabanga" and the eight-week novel class that turned a title into a book
• Why the Pacific is a trusted companion to Thad Hanlon, not just a setting, and how the Central Coast shapes the mood
• A sniper opens fire on kids at a surf competition: how real-world violence, including an active shooter on a campus Topper helped shut down, informed the opening
• Compete or keep the kids safe? What the parents, the detectives, and Zale's gang-leader godfather Armando Puentes each bring to the decision
• Humor as a release valve in a thriller, plus the Nail Joke from Topper's dad that ties into the case
• The midpoint twist that surprised even the author, and a first look at book four, Shell Beach Protocol

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Writing as Topper Jones, award-winning author Christopher G. Jones crafts fast-paced detective fiction blending a dash of romance, relentless action, and unforgettable characters. His Thad Hanlon & Bri de la Guerra Mystery Series has earned the Literary Titan Gold Book Award and Five-Star reviews from both Reader Views and Readers’ Favorite. The second book in the series—Oceano Beach Bedlam—was named by Utah Humanities as one of three Finalists in General Fiction for the 2026 Utah Book Awards.

A former consultant and university professor, Topper brings a sharp eye for detail to his intricate plots and compelling characters. He is a member of The Private Eye Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers, and an affiliate member of the Mystery Writers of America.

Topper now lives in the southwestern desert to be near family, but whenever the surf is up, he’ll make the 450-mile trek back to his native California coast for a little “water therapy.”

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